Can a self-taught enthusiast in an unrelated occupation, without a law degree, without any sort of formal legal education nor bar admittance, help other people study law? What would be the limitations?
For simplicity, let's assume an honest person who makes it clear that they're not a lawyer: can they volunteer as a first step in informing another person of their possible legal options (e.g., in landlord-tenant disputes), such that a person is more knowledgeable in case they do decide to contact or retain a lawyer?
Can such an enthusiast accept fees and/or gifts directly from someone they help study law, like a beer or lunch, for their help/suggestions in navigating the law? Can they casually mention that if the person wins their case, and thinks that such an enthusiast helped them do so, that a payment would be welcome? What would be the limitations?
Likewise, what about Small Claims Court? Although I know that in other courts you generally can't represent another person unless you have been admitted to the bar, Small Claims Courts in California don't actually admit any lawyers who aren't parties to a dispute. So, can a volunteer enthusiast help represent someone else in a small claims court, in either California or Texas?
If an enthusiast helps prepare certain documents on behalf of the plaintiff for Small Claims Court in California or Texas, or, for example, even the demand letter that would have to be sent before a small claims action could be started in Texas, could they negotiate with the plaintiff for a certain payout of the money recovered?